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Tag: atiku

  • Buhari turned deaf hears to my advices in APC – Atiku

    Former Vice President and presidential hopeful, Atiku Abubakar on Saturday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of ignoring his advice while in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Atiku stated this on Saturday in an interview with BBC Hausa Good Morning programme.

    “After 2015 general election, I met the president. I told him the activities of the party have been crippled and there is a need for restructure. Also I advised the president on issues concerning his administration. I said to him, if things continued like this, I will quit but Buhari turned deaf ears and remained mum,” he said.

    When asked how he would battle corruption if elected in 2019, the presidential candidate said: “If Nigerians can recall, we initiated the Economic and Financial (Crimes) Commission (EFCC). I’m the person that sourced for the takeoff funds for the EFCC.

    “In this administration (Buhari’s), there are people that are untouchable, they are doing things that are not in order but they are being shielded by the government. If elected Nigeria’s president, my administration will not spare any personality. When I was in (at) the helm (of affairs), none of my relatives or friends were found wanting.”

    Atiku, however, commended the present administration on security in the North-east but decried that the war is getting too long.

    “Eight years after, Nigerian government is still fighting Boko Haram that are not professionally trained. If elected Nigeria’s president, I will investigate how the government was unable to defeat Boko Haram for years, also I will investigate the procurement of arms bought by this administration,” he said.

    “If elected Nigeria’s president, 40 per cent of my cabinet ministers will be youths,” Atiku added.

    On the feud between the Nigerian government and Intel’s Nigeria Limited, in which he has a stake, Atiku said he was not part of Intel’s management so cannot be bothered.

    “When they (Intels) got the contract, they signed an agreement with the government that the money (profit) should be shared into three. One part of the money will be given to Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), another part is meant to service bank loans while the remaining is for Intels. But when this administration came, they said all the money must be deposited in the Single Treasury Account (Treasury Single Account). That was where the issues began,” Atiku said.

    When asked on his perceived ban from travelling to the United States of America, the former vice president said he “has no any grudges with the American authorities.”

    “I requested for visa, they said it is under administrative process. I’m not desperate to travel to America, I don’t have any investment there. The house I bought for my wife years back, she sold the house, I don’t have anything to do in America. It’s my tradition, I buy houses for my wives but for me, I don’t need house.”

    When asked whether the ‘ban’ will affect his chances of becoming Nigeria’s president, Atiku said: “It’s not by going to America that qualifies one to be a president, it’s not in our Constitution.”

  • Buhari belongs to the prison – Atiku group

    A group of supporters of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari belongs to the prison, following alleged illegal payment of $496 million to the U.S. Government for the purchase of Tucano jets.

    The Atiku Support Group said there was no difference in the crime Buhari had committed with that of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), who has been in detention since 2015 and is currently standing trial for alleged misappropriation of about $2 billion Boko Haram war funds.

    The group bared its mind this morning on its Twitter page @Atikusptgrpebon, adding that the courts should take note of the President’s illegal action.

    The group tweeted: “I think @MBuhari should go and join Dasuki at Kuje prison because both have committed the same crime. …#illegal withdrawal.

    “So court should take note.”

  • 2019: What I will do if I elected president – Atiku Abubakar

    Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar said he would relinquish more power to states if elected president next year.

    Abubakar, 71, said the current revenue-sharing formula doesn’t give enough to states to invest and be held accountable by their residents.

    “The federal government is being accused of everything even when it’s not supposed to be its area of responsibility,” Abubakar said Wednesday at a conference in London. “I want to be able to resolve that so citizens can hold their local leaders accountable for maladministration.”

    He spoke on the importance of strengthening states’ economic management system at London’s Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House).

    Abubakar, who used the opportunity to harp on some of his economic programmes and policies as a presidential candidate, said his government will streamline the operations of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Excess Crude Account and the Stabilisation Account which is currently embedded in the Revenue Allocation Formula for more effective stabilisation outcome.

    “I will extend railways to connect workers to jobs, suppliers to buyers, students to universities, and parents to their children in every major city in every state,” the presidential aspirant told the audience.

    Abubakar, a member of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, announced his intention to vie for leadership of Africa’s biggest oil producer in March, setting himself up as a candidate against President Muhammadu Buhari, who will seek a second term.

  • Why I ‘stepped down’ for MKO Abiola in 1993 – Atiku

    Why I ‘stepped down’ for MKO Abiola in 1993 – Atiku

    …says he’s not desperate to be Nigeria’s president in 2019

    Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has revealed why he stepped down for late MKO Abiola to contest in the 1993 presidential election that was annulled by the then Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

    The former Vice President and presidential hopeful also noted that he is not desperate to become president in 2019.

    “If I am desperate, I wouldn’t have stepped down for M.K.O Abiola in 1993 presidential race,” he said.

    Abubakar stated this on Tuesday, in an interview with BBC Hausa morning programme.

    He said if Nigerians could follow his political antecedent, they would not see him as a desperate politician.

    “In 1993, I contested with M.K.O Abiola. I later withdrew from the race. In 1999, I was elected a governor of Adamawa state, then invited to be Nigeria’s vice president, under Olusegun Obasanjo,” he said.

    “All the times I have been contesting for the presidency, I have been opportune only once to be presented to Nigerians as a candidate,” he said, adding that the remaining times, he ended up only at the primary election.

    “I could have become Nigeria’s president in 2003 when virtually, all the state governors then, rallied support for me to contest which I declined. I am not desperate to be president as some Nigerians view it.

    “As a former vice president, I am opportune to know things. If I am opportune to be elected as a president, I will accomplish my mission by reviving the economy, by making Nigeria an investor’s haven.

    “The present administration discouraged investors into the country, because the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exchange rate policies is too tedious for investors. CBN has three different exchange rate policies, which is not supposed to be.

    “If elected Nigeria’s president, I will expand the nation’s source of wealth to cater for the growing youth population in the country. Nigeria can justify my claims, going by the number of youth that are working in my industries across the country,” he said.

  • 2019: Atiku to deliver lecture at Chatham House Wednesday

    Former Vice President and presidential hopeful, Atiku Abubakar is scheduled to deliver a lecture in London Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), the United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 25 in furtherance to the pursuit of his presidential ambition.

    The keynote speech entitled “The Importance of Strengthening State Economic Management Systems” will lay bare novel and real prescriptions that when implemented will help Nigerian states come out from their economic quagmire and ultimately gets Nigeria working again.

    The Chatham keynote speech is one in a series of engagements by the PDP presidential hopeful to showcase the possibilities that exist in Nigeria and how to unlock its huge potentials to the good of all Nigerians.

    According to a statement from his media office, Atiku Abubakar will also deliver another major keynote speech at the Invest Africa and British Council for Africa ‘Annual Debate’. The former Vice President will be speaking alongside Dr Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary of the United Kingdom Government, on the subject of “Building new trade partnerships in Africa”

    These engagements are a follow-up to Atiku Abubakar’s meeting in June of 2017 with Liam Fox and Prime Minister Theresa May where they discussed the UK’s plan for increased trade with Nigeria post-Brexit.

    The PDP presidential hopeful will also be the guest of honour at a lunch on Nigerian inward investment to be hosted by Lord Anthony St John (former UK Minister for Africa) and be a guest speaker at Round Table of key UK business leaders keen in investing in Nigeria at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall.

    The visit to the UK by Atiku Abubakar, one of Nigeria’s most successful business leaders and foremost advocates for restructuring and free trade, is a continuation of his life-long commitment to find real solutions to help rescue Nigeria from its current economic crisis and set it on the path of economic growth and prosperity.

  • Atiku blasts Buhari over ‘Nigerian youths are lazy’ comment

    Former Vice President and presidential hopeful, Atiku Abubakar has replied President Muhammadu Buhari over his comments that ‘Nigerian youths are lazy and want everything for free’.

    Recall that President Buhari while speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, said the country’s youthful population is reliant on the notion that Nigeria is an oil-rich nation, which leads to the demand for free things.

    He said, “About the economy, we have a very young population, our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. This is a very conservative one.

    “More than 60 percent of the population is below 30, a lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education free.”

    However, in almost an instantaneous reaction, the former vice president took to his Twitter account to counter the president’s statement in a series of tweet.

    He noted that as an employer of labour, he has thousands of Nigerian youths on his payroll all over the country that has proved their worth as innovative and hardworking over the years.

    He tweeted: “I will never refer to Nigeria’s youth as people who sit and do nothing. They are hardworking. I should know, I have thousands of youths working for me all over the country who have been the backbone to our success.

    I’ve always said oil is not Nigeria’s greatest asset. Our greatest asset is our youth who created Nollywood out of nothing and an entertainment industry that is second to none in Africa.

    Another tweeter handle, obviously opened for the former VP’s presidential ambition tweeted to buttress Atiku’s points:

    Our youth are charting new frontiers; creating a huge tech industry on their own! Their entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and creative abilities are things of pride and should be applauded, encouraged and nurtured. Atiku businesses are being managed by youths, not even above the age 35. He believes in Nigeria’s youths and he’s coming on board with 40% inclusion of youths in his cabinet,” his tweets read.

  • Attack on Senate, a dangerous precedent – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the invasion of the Senate chamber by hoodlums and the carting away of the Mace, the symbol of authority of the upper chamber Senate President.

    Reacting to the incident in Abuja on Wednesday, Atiku Abubakaar described the attack as a dangerous precedent and an assault on Nigeria’s democracy by anti-democratic elements.

    “I am utterly embarrassed, shocked and outraged by this ugly development because it is not only a threat to a major democratic institution, but also represents a grave danger to the survival of our democracy.”

    Atiku Abubakar said that given the tension in the country, the timing of the attack could not have come at a worse time for Nigeria, and that using illegal and unconstitutional methods to threaten the authority of a key democratic institution is unacceptable, evil, and condemnable.

    The former Vice President noted that it is inconceivable that hoodlums could force their way into the Senate chamber and take away the Mace.

    “If criminals could commit such security breach with impunity, it means that our entire democracy is in danger”, Atiku said and warned “those behind this illegality to avoid creating a monster that could consume them.”

    Atiku Abubakar reminded Nigerians that so many people have died in order to bring this democracy about and therefore called for immediate investigation into the incident and the prompt prosecution of those involved.

    “It is unacceptable and reprehensible to subject the National Assembly to this intimidation and humiliation. This attack by thugs should not go unpunished no matter who is involved”, he added.

    Atiku Abubakar while likening democratic institutions to the human body said “if one organ is harmed, it affects others.”

    He urged those pushing the county’s political temperature to dangerous levels to desist from it as they are playing a Russian roulette with Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy.

    Atiku Abubakar however called for unity calm and an end to the culture of political disunity that is tearing our dear country apart.

  • Atiku’s son drags ex-wife to court over children’s custody

    …Rejects N250,000:00 monthly upkeep

    Aminu Atiku, son of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, on Thursday asked a Lagos High Court in Igbosere to upturn a Magistrates’ Court decision awarding custody of his two children to his ex-wife, Unmi Fatima Bolori.

    Aminu told Justice Kazeem Alogba that the lower court disregarded his right to fair hearing before granting judgment in Bolori’s favour.

    Neither he nor Bolori was in court.

    On January 10, Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye, of the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, granted Bolori full custody of the ex-couple’s daughter, Ameera (11) and son, Aamir (7).

    The court held that Aminu failed to file a response to Bolori’s application for child custody.

    But Aminu, through his counsel, Oyinkan Badejo, filed two applications – one seeking leave to appeal the lower court’s judgment and the other for a stay of further execution of its terms.

    The first application, a motion on notice of January 31, was pursuant to Section 70 of the Magistrates’ Court Law 2009, and supported by a 16-paragraph application.

    Badejo said: “In response to whether the applicant has shown sufficient ground for the grant of the application, there is not more sufficient ground than the party’s right to fair hearing.

    “We arrived at the Magistrates’ Court at 12.30 pm, believing the matter was for mention at 1pm.”

    She contended that the lower court erred by hearing and granting Bolori’s application for custody on a date the suit was fixed for mention.

    In the February 20 application, Badejo urged the court to vary conditions attached to the custody order.

    According to the lower court’s order, Aminu is to pay Bolori N250,000 monthly for the upkeep of the children, beginning January 2018.

    Chief Magistrate Ayeye also ordered Aminu to carry out medical insurance on each child, among others.

    But Badejo said: “We are not seeking a stay of the execution of the judgment. But some of the terms were onerous. We were asked to pay N250,000 for the upkeep of two young children, medical allowances, etc. We find that rather onerous.”

    Bolori’s counsel, O. N. Olabisi and Ethel Okoh opposed her, citing, among others, the interest of the children.

    But in Justice Alogba granted Aminu leave to appeal.

    The judge adjourned further hearing till May 17 and June 14.

     

  • Easter: Atiku, Makarfi, Dickson, others felicitate with Christians; preach love, tolerance

    Easter: Atiku, Makarfi, Dickson, others felicitate with Christians; preach love, tolerance

    Former Vice President and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has felicitated with Christians as they mark the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    In this, he was joined by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, PDP chieftain and former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and former Osun State deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

    In a statement released by his media office in Abuja to mark the Easter celebrations, Atiku called on Nigerians to emulate the virtues of love and sacrifice which characterised the life of Jesus Christ.

    The Waziri Adamawa described those two qualities as essential to the unity that Nigeria so desperately needs at this time when vested and provincial interests threaten to tear our nation apart.

    He also encouraged Nigeria’s leaders to use the opportunity of the Easter celebration to reflect on their stewardship to their people and to the nation.

    “Our leaders at all levels should follow the virtues that define this season – sacrifice, love and charity – and come together to help all Nigerians resolve the differences that divide us.

    We must not allow those who seek to divide us to pretend as if our problems are as a result of another ethnic or religious group,” Atiku said.

    On his part, Senator Omisore charged Christians as well as all Nigerians to demonstrate the essence of Easter as exemplified by Jesus Christ, by living in love and harmony with one another.

    Omisore, a former Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, gave this charge in a statement he issued to felicitate with Nigerians on Easter celebrations.

    “As Nigerians, we must eschew acts that will divide us further. We must embrace Christ’s attitude of living in love and harmony with ourselves and our neighbours,” he said.

    “It is not by chance that God put all of us in this environment called Nigeria. Whether as Muslims or Christians, we must remember always that we are our brother’s keeper.

    “We must promote all the enriching values that make our lives and society embodiments of godliness.”

    Omisore, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2014 governorship election in Osun State, urged the people of the state to be steadfast in their prayers.

    Bayelsa State governor, Hon, Henry Seriake Dickson, urged Nigerians, particularly Christians to jealously cherish and guide their faith by living a Christ-like life of selfless service, sacrifice, love and righteousness.

    The governor, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, noted that, without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, “our faith as Christians would have been a fallacy.”

    While stressing that Nigeria is presently at a crossroads, the governor called on Bayelsans to love one another, pray fervently for the peace, prosperity and stability of the nation and sacrifice for the common good of Bayelsa State.

    Governor Dickson also solicited for the maximum cooperation of the people and leaders of the state and the Ijaw Nation to enable his Restoration Government consolidate on its legacy projects in order to finish strong by 2020.

    He said: “As we celebrate Easter, which of course is the basis of our faith as Christians, I urge Nigerians, particularly Bayelsans, to emulate our Lord Jesus Christ by words and deeds.

    “We must love one another and sacrifice for the common good of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.

    “This country is facing daunting challenges which call for fervent prayers and hard work to surmount.

    “Our Government in the last six years has put Bayelsa State on the path of peace and prosperity. I therefore, solicit the continued cooperation and support of leaders and the people of the state to enable our Restoration Government consolidate on its life-changing legacy projects and finish strong.”

    In his own message, Makarfi said in spite of various challenges, there is still hope for Nigeria.

    Jesus’ death and resurrection, he said, are everlasting reminders that it is possible for Nigeria to overcome its difficult situation and embrace great virtues.

    He asked Nigerians to eschew bitterness and embrace the spiritual legacies of Jesus Christ which can immensely facilitate Nigeria’s peace and progress.

    He sent “warm felicitations and greetings to the Nigerian Christian community, and indeed all Nigerians on this auspicious occasion of the Easter celebrations in memory of the legendary spirit of sacrifice and selflessness espoused and exhibited by Jesus Christ.”

    It is imperative, according to him, that this period be “used by all for meditation and sober reflections on the life and times of Jesus Christ and his sacrifices, with a view to imbibing such virtues as humility, forgiveness, tolerance, good neighbourliness, respect and empathy for others’ feelings as well as love for one another.”

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Solomon Adeola, charged his constituents and Nigerians in general to remain peaceful and exhibit the Christian virtues of sacrifice, love and abiding faith in a better tomorrow as exemplified in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    Adeola said the season symbolises a new beginning of hope and redemption for all mankind, adding that for all true Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means that all challenges confronting individuals and mankind are ultimately surmountable with fervent belief in God.

    The senator said the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gave mankind hope of a new beginning and a better future, stressing that in spite of enormous challenges confronting the nation, Nigeria is at the threshold of a better tomorrow.

     

  • 2019: Obasanjo fighting me for frustrating his third term agenda – Atiku

    • Most important pillar funding PDP today is governor Nysome Wike

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday revealed that former President Obasanjo is still at war with him for opposing his [Obasanjo’s] bid to secure a third term in office.

    Atiku who made the observation during his consultative visit to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said if he had not frustrated the bid by the then president to smuggle tenure elongation into Nigeria’s constitution, many political office holders today will have been denied the opportunities they currently enjoy.

    He said, “We need to always remember that some people sacrificed their lives so that we can live today. There are some people who are still fighting me today because I stopped them from putting tenure elongation in our constitution. If I have supported that , several governors, Presidents who had opportunities today will not come near office. The crux of the matter is that I have again come to you as People Democratic Party, PDP members, before I go public to the public to offer myself for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Atiku likened his political growth with that of Wike, lauded the governor’s stride in the state and his role in reviving PDP as a party.

    He furthered, “The kind of leadership you are showing in the party, nobody else is doing so. I use this opportunity to tell you, you have found a partner in me. We will work together to make sure our party returns to power.

    “Having said that, I will want thank the good people of rivers state for giving me this opportunity to be in the state. I assure you that today Nigeria is at crossroad, I have never seen Nigeria so divided along regional, ethnic, religious divides like this. This division is brought about by the mismanagement of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government. We have a responsibility to work together, to see that this great country, which has the potentials of being great actualise its greatness. Let nobody deceive you, a fragmented Nigeria will not favour anyone, our diversity is key to us. The potential in our diversity, when united is more than what a fragmented Nigeria offers.

    “Today, the most important pillar funding this party today is governor Nysome Wike, therefore we all know what we have gone through in the last three years from where PDP left it, from all statistics, it shows PDP has outperformed APC. Education which is key to our development, ever sin”e they came into office the percentage of what is dedicated to education has been decreasing.

    “We have set to change the narrative, that is why you need to understand where we are today. If we had not had APC we would not have been able to compare, We will be interacting more, as we are communicating with you; please take our words to your constituency Atiku urges Rivers people.

    “When we came inot the office, I hired seven PHD holders and the President was asking me wat I was doing with them, sooner my office became more functional; I have the capacity to assemble the best.

    “It is not the issue of “This is my son, my sister son..etc’ the good thing is that I don’t even have a brother or sister..I am the only one.” He said

    On his own part, Wike thanked Atiku for visiting the people of Rivers State and assured him of his support.

    He added, “God in his infinite mercy will bring back PDP to power. We will say this over and over again that PDP is a family; Nobody will do anything truncate our mission to rescue Nigeria.

    I appeal to everybody in the party, especially all the aspirants not to see getting into office as Do-or-Die affair, his excellency, I thank you for coming and assure you that you have our support.